Charleston Airman sets APEX record: 1st in AMC

Published Sept. 2, 2009
By 2nd Lt. Ashleigh Peck
437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- An Airman with the 437th Aerial Port Squadron set a new record Aug. 25 by becoming the first C-17 aerial port expeditor in Air Mobility Command to reach 500 cargo loads.

Staff Sgt. Nathan Dunn reached his 500th load during a local trainer mission consisting of two combat off-load pallets and a High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.

Dale Cozart, 437th APS assistant operations officer, helped start the APEX program in October 2006 and confirmed Sergeant Dunn as the first Airman in AMC to achieve the record number of loads.

Tech. Sgt. Patricia McClure, 437th APS C-17 APEX program evaluator, confirmed the landmark as well.

"Sergeant Dunn is a sharp individual and takes a lot of pride in his work," she said.

For Sergeant Dunn, significance of being the first in AMC to achieve a 500 load record did not overshadow his mission-first attitude.

"It was just another load. I was just doing my job," said Sergeant Dunn after completing the load.

Although Sergeant Dunn said the cargo load was simply the result of doing his job, Lt. Col. Robert Neal, 437 APS commander, said it is a considerable achievement.

"[This is] a benchmark for AMC and a significant milestone for Sergeant Dunn and Charleston AFB," he said.

Mr. Cozart also said the landmark is significant and it speaks highly of Sergeant Dunn.

Sergeant Dunn graduated from the APEX program in May 2007 and has performed duties as an aerial port expeditor for more than two years.

In October 2008, Sergeant McClure deployed with Sergeant Dunn to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, where she was his supervisor.

"He enjoys challenges and volunteered to deploy to Incirlik in 2007 as part of a four-man team to test the program," Sergeant McClure said.

During that time, Sergeant Dunn said one load in particular stood out in his mind -- his first APEX load while stationed at Incirlik AB. He said it was important because it was also the first time the deployed APEX program was put into action.

Sergeant Dunn also recently achieved a significant personal goal. Sergeant McClure said Sergeant Dunn has wanted to become an instructor, and his wish became reality Aug. 30 for the first time when he was assigned to instruct Charleston's newest APEX class.

All C-17 APEX classes are currently held at Charleston AFB. The AMC initiated program stood up in October 2006. Since its launch, the program has significantly reduced aircrew alert time by granting the 437th APS the ability to on- and off-load all types of cargo without the supervision of a loadmaster.